Sukier



L. 1. LE MESURIER.

AEROELANE ARRESTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. 1919.

1 3 1 3 2U Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

. s SHEETS-SHEET x. W m

I T M- K J) K I N M )K- J )3 w a Q K9 LI L. 1. LE MESURIER.

AEROPLANE ARRESTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. l9l9.

PatentedS 9, 1919.

5 SHEE HEET 2.

L. 1. LE MESURIER.

AEROPLANE ABRESTINGAPPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED IUNE l0, 1Ell9.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

5 SHE TSSHEET 3 I f/w L. J. LE MESURIER. AEBOPLANE ARRESVTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. l9l9- Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

L. 1. LE MESURIER.

AEROPLANE ARRESTING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 10. I919.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5- Louis Joanna MESURIER, or NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOB or ONE-HALF v'IIKJ SIR G. ARMSTRONG WHITWORTH & ELSWICK WORKS, NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND.

Specification of Letters Patent.

COMIANY LIMITED, OF

annornann nnmis'rme APPARATUS.

Patented Sept. 9, 1919..

, -Application filed June 10, 1919. Serial No. 303,059.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LoUIs JOHN Ln ME- smunn, a subject of the King of England, and resident of N ewcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Aeroplane-Arresting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification;

This invention relates to apparatus for the arresting of aeroplanes and has for its object to enable an aeroplane to land in a com paratively confined space as for example on a ships deck. a

In order to enable an aeroplane to land safely on a ship several important points have to be takeninto consideration. In the first place the aeroplane must be piloted with accuracy into the space in question and the direction in which the aeroplane is moving whenthe landing is effected must be defined within reasonable limits. The extent of the area necessary for landing will be governed largely with the accuracy which it is possible to attain in these respects naturally taken in conjunction with the weather conditions. Assuming that a given-area has been determined within which a machine can safely be expected to alight at flying speed then it should be possible by means of a suitable device to restrict considerably the additional area which in ordinary conditions isrequired to allow of the machine being safely brought to rest. By means of the present. invention the movement of the aeroplane is arrested on landing'within a given area while means are provided for holding down the aeroplane when it has come to rest. The latter is a feature of importance as it is possible that when a ma-' chine has landed and come to rest it may be subjected to wind currents or eddies which will displace the machine before it can be secured. For instance if the ship on which the landing is effected is steaming in the direction in which the aeroplane lands some means must be provided to prevent the aeroplane from. bemg'blown backward as soon as it has come to rest relatively to the deck of the ship.

According to this invention one or more flexible loops are disposed at or toward. one end of a rope Whose other end is in slidin engagement with the loops onthe first and a each loop.

The rope is led around two pulleys which are spaced apart and theaeroplane is pro-- vided with means by which when it is alighting 'it can engage a loop so that the aeroplane can be arrested and held'down by the rope. The loops are arranged to pass through eyes -mounted on or toward the other end of the rope. .Thus the loops on one end of the rope are engaged by and can slide through the eyes on the other end of the rope. The pulleys are so arranged as to be relatively movable in order to increase the distance between them and thereby exert a pull on the rope so as to cause the eyes to slide along the loops. The aeroplane is provided witha. hook or the like by means of which a loop is engaged when the aeroplane is eifecting a landing and the arresting and holding down of the aeroplane is then accomplished by forces applied to the aeroplane through the rope. For convenicnce of reference the loops may be termed aeroplane-engagingloops and are so referred to in the claims and it is to be understood that the term covers a loop adapted to beengaged by a hook or like member connected to or forming part of the aeroplane. The arresting is effected by applying aresistance which is either cumulative or otherwise to the travel of the rope over or around the pulleys. The holding down isaccomplished by a-pull on the loop when it is engaged by the hook on the aeroplane this pull being brought about by the relative movement of the pulleys around which- Figure 1 is a plan of the apparatus showi ing'the arrangement of the ropes and loops; F1g. 21s a somewhat dlagrammatlc slde elevation showing the manner in which the j scale showing means for automatically movloops are engaged by an. aeroplane when alighting;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view illustrating 'by which-the aeroplane is arrested and held down after engaging the loop;

Fig. 4 is a detail view on an enlarged ing one pulley away from the other;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation on an enlarged scale of one of the springs employed for holding the loops;

Fig. 6 is a side elevation illustrative of one method of holding and guiding a traveling rope on the landing surface;

Fig. 7 is a plan of the same;

Fig. 8 is a section on. the line 88 of Fig. 6; s

Fig. 9 is a'planof a shock absorbing'device as it may be employed.

Like leters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.

On the deck A of a ship or other landing place selected a wire or other light r'ope B is disposed at or toward one endof which are formed or attached a series of flexible aeroplane engaging loops B formed for example of wire rope. The rope B is arranged in the direction in which landing is to be effected that is to say fore and aft in the case of a ships deck. Each of the loops B is on "a separate pendant or part B attached tothe main part of the rope so that the loops can be arranged along the deck in a row one behind the other along the rope B which extends beneath all the loops as shown in Fig. 1. The rope is'carried around two pulleys C and C suitably spaced apart as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 and mounted on horizontal spindles and theend of the rope opposite to that which carries the loops B is provided with a series of eyes B through each of which passes a pendant part B which carries the loop B at the first end of the rope. ment is such that if a pull is exerted on the rope B the ends thereof will move in opposite directions and each loop B will tend to be drawn through an eye 13*. Each loop B is opened out and arranged in a flattened form as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 so as to lie across the rope B with the part B of the loop on or below the landing surface A while the other part B is held a short dis- *tance above this surface conveniently by means of a series of light springs D attaehedto the landingsurface. Thus when an aeroplane E is about to alight as it comes down on the landing surface A it will'pass loops and a hook F suitably disposed on The arrange' Jug conditions. as shown in Fig. 2 in successlon over these Conveniently two or more ropes B are arranged parallel to each other as shown in Fig. 1 each rope being carried around a pair of pulleys C C while the loops B on ,these ropes are disposed side by side or so as to alternate as found desirable. In this way a number of loops can be distributed over the area on which the aeroplane alights and so as to insure that wherever the aeroplane comes down in this area the hook F thereon will engage a'loop. By employing springs such as D to hold the loops B open or spread then no interference will be offered to the travel of the aeroplane over the landing surface since the loops are flexible and the springs will yield as the landing wheels of the aeroplane pass over them in the manner indicated in Fig. 2. Each rope B with its series of loops B may be regarded as a complete element-and each element is preferably arranged and controlled independently of the others.- The number of elements employed and their relative disposition will be determinel by the area of the landing space available.

When an aeroplane alights and engages one of the loops B the latter will be drawn out of the supporting spring clips D and pulled from a transverse into a longitudinal position. The rope B which carries the loops will then travel around the pulley (l C. The process of picking up and straightening out a loop formed of a light steel wire will not subject the hook on the aeroplane to any undue shock orstrain. Similarly it is possible to reduce-the mass of the rope element so as to Preventany serious shock when it is put into motion. Ifdesired however some convenient form of shock absorber such as a spring G can be introduced at a suitable point in therope as illustrated in Fig; 9. Resistance to the movement of the rope B is offered preferably by carrying that part'of the rope which lies beneath the landing surface through a tube or cylinder H of suitable length in which is a piston H attached to the rope as shown in Fig. 4. Besistance to the travel of the piston along the cylinder is offered preferably by the air pressure on one face of the piston and the vacuum which tends to be created at the other side of the piston. Suitably controlled openings for the escape and inlet of the air at the opposite ends of the cylinder H may be provided. The length of the cylinder H and the stroke of the piston H therein is determined with relation to the type of aeroplane with which the apparatus is to be used and the arresting force and travel suitable both to the aeroplane and the land- Alternatively a frictional device of some suitable type may be employed and aaplied to the longitudinal part of the rope so as to subject the aeroplane as it alights to the necessary predetermined and if desired cumulative arresting force.

One of the pulleys around which the rope B passesand preferably that one (J which is most remote from the end of the alighting area which the aeroplane firstapproaches, is mounted so as to be movable away from the other pulley C. Conveniently this pulley C is mounted on a rod C and connected to a piston movable in a cylinder C to which air or liquid under pressure can be delivered, this arrangement being illustrated in Fig. 4:. Fig; 4 illustrates diagrammatically an arrangement whereby the pulley G is automatically moved after the rope has traveled a predetermined distance. This arrangement comprises a lever C connected to the spindle of the valve controlling the admission of fluid'pressurec. y. compressed air'to the cylinder C This lever is controlled bya springC and normally held in the position shownb-y a trigger-C connected. to one arm of a--bell crank lever C The other arm of the bell crank lever C is adapted to be engaged by a collar or projection B secured to the rope B, so that when the rope has traveled a predetermined distance over the pulleyC the ,.col-. lar will actuate the bell crank lever C thus releasing the trigger C and admitting compressed air to'the cylinder whereupon the piston rod C is forced outward and the pulley C moved away from the other pulley C thus exerting a pull on the rope Band each of the loops B at one end of the rope will tend to be drawn through thecorresponding eye B on the other end of the rope. This will have the effect of holding down the aeroplane after its horizontal motion has been arrested the movement of the pulley preferably commencing before the arresting of the aeroplane is complete. The movement of thepulley C is preferably caused to commence automatically when or shortly after the hook F on the aeroplane E has engaged one of the loops B. This may be effected by means of suitable mechanism "actuated by the pull on the rope B so as to admit air or "liquid under pressure to the cylinder C in which is the piston connected to the movable pulley C.

The supports by means of which each loop B is maintained in the opened out state may'each comprise a spring strip D rigidly attached at one end to the deck or other landing surface A while the free end curves upward as shown in Fig. 5 and is-provided with a spring clip D in which-the'loop B rcstsand from which it can .be easily withdrawn when picked up by the hook F on the aeroplane.

The hook F is attached tothe aeroplane at a point which is as near as possible to the center of gravity of'the machine so as to minimize the tendency of the machine to tip when being arrested. The hook F as shown in Fig. 2 is preferably carried on the end of an arm F pivoted beneath the fuselage and means are provided such as a cord F for lifting the hook when not re.

quired and for lowering it into an operative position when landing;

The rope B is preferably guided along the alighting surface A and means provided to prevent the hook F from lifting the rods clear of thes-urface at any time. This may If a shock absorber is employed this may comprise as shown in Fig. 9 a coiled spring G interposed between the piston H inthe cylinder H which serves to arrest the travel of the rope B and an adjacent part of the latter. Rope connections B between'tli'ese parts are also provided to limit the extension of the spring Gr.

The details of construction may be modified as required. Q

What I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is I. In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes, the combination of a rope, a flexible aeroplane-engaging loop at one end of this rope, a sliding connection between the second end of the rope and the first end adjacent to the flexible loop and two pulleys spaced apart around which the rope is led and can travel as set forth.

2. In'apparatus for arresting aeroplanes, the combination of a rope, a flexible aeroplane engaging loop at onev end of this rope, asliding connection between the second end of the rope and the first end adjacent tothe. flexible loop, two pulleys spaced apart around which tlie rope is led and can travel and means for moving the pulleys apart whereby a pull is exerted on the rope as set forth. r

3. In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes, the combination of a rope, a flexible acroplane engaging loop at one end of this rope, a sliding connection between the second end of the rope and the first end adjacent to the flexible loop, two pulleys spaced apart around which the rope is led and can travel and meansfor applying resistance to the travel of the rope over the pulleys.

4. In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes, the combination of a rope, a, flexible acroplane-engaging loop at one end of this rope, a sliding connection between the second end of the rope and the first end ad acent to the flexible loop, two pulleys spaced apart flexible aeroplane-engaging loops disposed toward one end of this rope, a plurality of sliding connections between the second end portion of the rope and the first end portion adjacent to each flexible loop and two pulleys spacedapart and around which the ropeis led and can travel as set forth.

6. In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes the combination of a rope, a plurality of flexible aeroplane-engaging loops disposed toward one end of this rope, means for normally supporting each loop in a raised position and extendmg it at right angles to the length of the rope, a plurality of sliding connections between the second end portion of the rope and the first end portion adjacent to each flexible loop and two pulleys spaced apart and around which the rope is led and can travel as set forth.

7. .In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes the combination of'a plurality of ropes disposed parallel to each other, a flexible aeroplane-engagingloop at one end of each ropea' sliding connection between the second en portion of each rope and the first end por- .tion adjacent to the flexible loop and pulleys spacedapart around which each rope is led and can travel.

f 8. Inapparatus for arresting aeroplanes the combination of a'plurality of ropes arranged parallel to each other, a plurality of flexible aeroplane-engaging loops disposed toward one end of each rope, a plurali'ty of sliding connections between the second end portion of each rope and the. first end portion adjacent to .each flexible loop, a plurality of flexible arms normally sup-porting each loop. in a raised position and extending it at right angles to the length of its rope and pulleys spaced apart around which each rope is led and can travel. U a

9. In apparatus-for arresting aeroplanes the combination of a rope,' a plurality of flexible aeroplane-engaging loops at one end of this rope, a sliding connection between the second end of the rope and the first end adjacent to each flexible loop, two pulleys spaced apart around which the rope is led and can travel, means for'moving the'pulleys relatively-to-each other so as to exert a pull on the rope and means for applying resistance to the travel of the rope over the. pulleys as set forth.

10. In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes the combination of a plurality of ropes, a

plurality of flexible aeroplane-engaging and means for app each rope is led and can travel, means for moving o'ne pulley in each pair relatlvely to the other so as to exert a pull on their respective ropes and means for applying resistance to the travel of each rope over its respective pulleys.

. 11. In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes the combination of a rope, a flexible aeroplane-engaging loop at one end of this rope, a sliding connection between the second end of the rope and the first end adjacent to the flexible loop, two pulleys spaced apart around which the rope is led and can travel and means automatically actuated by the travel of the rope over the pulleys to move the pulleys apart and thus exert a pull on the rope.

, 12. In apparatus for arrestin aeroplanes the combination of a rope, a exible aeroplane-engaging loop at one end of this rope, a sliding connection between the second end of the rope and the first end adjacent to the flexible loop, two pulleys spaced apart around which the rope is led and can travel and means for moving one pulley relatively to the other comprising a cylinder and a piston, adapted to reciprocate therein under ,of the rope and the first end adjacent to the flexible loo two pulleys spaced apart around whic the rope is led and can travel and means for applying a cumulative resistance to the travel of the rope over the pulleys as set forth.

14. In apparatus for arrestin aeroplanes the combination of a rope, a exible aeroplane-engaging'loop at one end of this rope a sliding connection between the second on of the rope and the first end adjacent to the flexible loop, two pulleys spaced apart around which the rope is led and can travel, means for applying a cumulative resistance to the travel of the ro e over the pulleys and a shock absorbing devlce between the flexible loop and the reslstance mechanism.

15. In apparatus for arrestin aeroplanes the combination of a rope, a exible aeroplane-engaging loop at one end of this rope, a sliding connection between the second end of this rope and the first end adjacent to the flexible loo two pulleys spaced apart aroun which t e rope is led and can travel ying resistance to the travel of the rope over the pulleys comprising a cylinder through which a portion of the rope passes and a piston mounted on the rope reciprocating therein.

16. In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes the combination of a rope, a flexible aeroplane-engaging loop at one end ofthis rope,

a sliding connection between the second end of the rope and the first end adjacent to the flexible loop, two pulleys spaced apart around which the rope is led and can travel,

means for applying resistance to the travel of the rope over the pulleys coniprisinga cylinder through which a portion of the rope passes, a piston mounted on the rope and reciprocating therein, and a shock absorber provided in the length of the rope between the loop and resistance piston.

17. In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes the combination of a rope, a flexible aeroplane-engaging loop at one end of this rope, a sliding connection between the second end of the rope and the first end adjacent to the flexible loop, two pulleys spaced apart around which the rope is led and can travel, means for moving one pulley relatively to the other so as to exert a pull on the rope and tend to draw the loop on one end of the rope through the sliding connection on the other end. thereof and means for applying resistance to the travel of the rope over the pulleys comprising a closed cylinder through which the rope passes and a piston secured to the rope and reciprocating within the cylinder.

18. In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes the combination of a rope, a flexible aeroplane-engaging loop at one end of this rope, a sliding connection between the second end of the rope and the first end adjacent to the flexible loop, two. pulleys spaced apart around which the rope is led and can travel, means for moving one pulley relatively to the other so as to exert a pull on the rope and tend to draw the loop on one end of the rope through the sliding connection on theother end thereof, means for applying resistance to the travel of the rope over the pulleys comprising a closed cylinder through which the rope passes and a piston secured to the rope reciprocating within the cylinder and a shock absorbing device arranged in the length of the rope between the loop and resistance piston.

19. In apparatus 'for arresting aeroplanes, the combination of a rope, a flexible aeroplane-engaging loop at one end of this rope, a sliding connection between the second end of the rope and the first end adjacent to the flexible loop, two pulleys spaced apart around which the rope is led and can travel,

means for moving one pulley relatively to.

comprising a cylinder and a piston reciprocatlng therein under the action of a fluid pressure medium and connected to one of the a portion of the rope passes and a piston secured to the rope reciprocating within the cylinder.

20. In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes the combination of a rope, a flexible aeroplane-engaging loop at one end of this rope, a sliding connection between the second end of the rope and the first end adjacent to the flexible loop, "two pulleys spaced apart around which the rope is led and can travel, means for moving one pulley relatively to the other so as to tend to draw the loop on one end of the rope through the sliding connection on the other end thereof, such means comprising a cylinder and a iston reciprocating therein under the action of a fluid pressure medium and connected to oneof th pulleys, means for applying resistance to the travel of the rope around the pulleys comprising a closed cylinder through which a portion of therope passes and a piston se cured to the rope reciprocating within the 21. In apparatus for-arresting aeroplanes I the combination of a rope, a plurality of flexible aeroplane-engaging loops disposed toward one end of this rope, a plurality of sliding connections between the second end 'portion of the rope and the first end portion adjacent to each flexible loop, a plurality of flexible arms normally supporting each loop in a raised position and adapted to extend each loop at right angles to the length of the rope, two pulleys spaced apart and around which the rope is led and can travel, means for applying resistance to the travel of the rope around the pulleys comprising a closed cylinder through which a portion of the rope passes and a piston secured to the rope and reciprocating within the cylinder and means for moving onepulley relatively to the other so as to exert a pull on the loop which has been engaged by a portion of the aeroplane and so hold down the aeroplane.

22. In an apparatus for arresting aeroplanes, the combination of a rope, a plurality of flexible aeroplane-engaging loops disposed toward one end of this rope, a plurality of sliding connections between the second end portion of the rope and the first end portion adjacent to each flexible loop, a plurality of flexible arms normally supporting each loop in a raised position and adapted to extend each loop at right angles to the length of the rope, two pulleys spaced apart around which the rope is led and can travel, means for moving one pulley relatively to the other so as to tend to draw the.

loop on one end of the rope after it has been engaged by a portion of the aeroplane through the sliding connection on the other end of the rope such means comprising a eylinder and a piston reciprocating therein under the action of a fluid pressure medium and connected to one of the pulleys and means for applying resistance to the travel of the rope around the pulleys comprising a.

closed cylinder through which a portion, of the rope passes and a piston secured to the rope and reciprocating within the cylinder.

23. In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes the combination of a rope, a plurality of flexible aeroplane-engaging loops disposed toward one end of the rope, a plurality of sliding connections between the second end portion of the rope and the first end portion adjacent-to each flexible loop, a plurality of flexible arms normally supporting each loop in a raised position and adapted to extend each loop at right angles to the length of the rope, two pulleys spaced apart around which the rope 'is led and can travel, means for moving one pulley relatively to the other so as to tend to draw the loop on one end of the rope after .it has been engaged bya portion of the aeroplane through the sliding connection on the other end of the rope, such means comprising a cylinder and a piston reciprocating therein under the action of a fluid pressure medium and connected to one of the pulleys, means for applying resistance to the travel of the rope around the piston secured to the rope and reciprocating,

within the cylinder and a shock absorbing device arranged in the length of the rope between the'loop and resistance piston.

24. In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes the combination ofa rope, a flexible aeroplane-engaging loop at one end of the rope, a sliding connection between the second end of the rope and the first end portion adjacent to the loop, a landing surface, two pulleys spaced aparton axes disposed below the landing surface, the rope being led around one pulley along the landing surface and around the second pulley and thence back to the first pulley so that the ends of the rope with the flexible loop lieon the landing surface, means for preventing the rope being drawn away from the landing surface, meansfor exerting a pull upon the rope in a direction parallel to its length and means for applying resistance to the travel thereof over the pulleys.

25. In apparatus for arresting aeroplanes the combination of a rope adapted to travel in the direction of the aeroplane, means for applying resistance to such travel of the rope and a running noose on the free end of the rope adapted to be picked up by a portion of the aeroplane and to close on said portion when engaged thereby.

In testimony whereof I have. signed my name to this specification.

LOUIS JOHN LE M ESURIER. 

